Apparatus for discharging top discharge bins

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for discharging the contents of bins having top walls provided with discharge openings and hinged doors movable between closed positions overlying the discharge openings and upwardly projecting open positions. The apparatus comprises a main frame, a bin support frame rotatably mounted on the main frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between a bin receiving position and a bin discharge position, and a retention frame which is movable toward and away from the support frame for clamping a bin on the support frame and releasing the bin for removal from the frame. A discharge funnel is mounted on the retention frame for movement to a position overlying the bin discharge opening and a bumper member on the retention frame is engageable with the open bin door for holding the door open during rotation of the support frame to discharge the bin contents by gravity through the discharge funnel. A plurality of fluid actuated cylinder assemblies on the main frame cooperate to facilitate rotation of the support frame to a position in which the bin contents will flow through the discharge funnel.

United States Patent Wiese APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING TOP DISCHARGE BINS [75] Inventor: Delmar R. Wiese, Blue Springs,

Nebr.

[73] Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Company,

Saline, Mich.

[22] Filed: May 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 140,471

[52] US. Cl. 214/314, 248/137 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 65/34 [58] Field of Search 16/138, 144; 141/277, 284, 332, 334, 340-343, 375, 376, 379; 214/305, 312, 314; 222/165, 166, 164,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,402 6/1964 Gunn, Jr. 214/314 2,467,866 4/1949 Smolderen et al 222/166 X 2,822,113 2/1958 Joiner, 214/314 X 2,813,294 11/1957 Civitelli 16/137 2,710,128 6/1955 Anderson... 141/277 X 1,891,032 12/1932 Venable 222/166 3,288,332 11/1966 Etter et al 222/80 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney-Olsen & Stephenson [57] ABSTRACT sitions. The apparatus comprises a main frame, a bin support frame rotatably mounted on the main frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between a bin receiving position and a bin discharge position, and a retention frame which is movable toward and away from the support frame for clamping a bin on the support frame and releasing the bin for removal from the frame. A discharge funnel is mounted on the retention frame for movement to a position overlying the bin discharge opening and a bumper member on the retention frame is engageable with the open bin door for holding the door open during rotation of the support frame to discharge the bin contents by gravity through the discharge funnel. A plurality of fluid actuated cylinder assemblies on the main frame cooperate to facilitate rotation of the support frame to a position in which the bin contents will flow through the discharge funnel.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PMENIEB 1 I913 3,777 920 sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR DELMAR R. WIESE F1641 v BY 0L 557v & 57EPHE/VSON ATTORNEYS mazmzunw 11 3'. 777. 920

SHEU 2 OF 3 INVENTOR DELMAR R. WIESE FIG. 3 BY OLSE/V 8 STEPHENSON ATTORNEYS PMENIEM H915 3.777. 920

sum 3 or 5 INVENTOR DELMAR R. WIESE OLSEN X STEPHENSON ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING TOP DISCHARGE BINS BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION Material handling systems employing large metal bins are of improved efficiency when apparatus is employed that is capable of quickly and efficiently discharging the contents of the bins. This is particularly true in the case of bins having the discharge openings therefor formed in the bin top walls. U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,402, assigned to the assignee of this invention, illustrates several different forms of bin tilting devices capable of discharging the contents of bins of this type. It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for discharging the contents of a bin of this type which is an improvement over the devices shown in the aforementioned patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved apparatus of this invention includes a bin support frame mounted on a main frame for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis between bin re ceiving and bin discharging positions. The support frame includes a floor on which the bin to be discharged is supported and which is horizontal in the bin receiving position of the support frame. Side portions of the support frame extend upwardly from the floor in the bin receiving position of the support frame and upwardly extended cylinder assemblies on the side portions are connected to a bin retention frame for moving the bin retention frame away from the floor to enable sideways movement of a bin to and from a supported position on the floor and for moving the retention frame toward the floor so as to clamp a bin to be discharged thereagainst. Telescoping rod assemblies cooperate with the cylinder assemblies to stabilize movement of the retention frame toward and away from the floor and insure the desired engagement of the retention frame with the bin so as to clamp the bin against the floor. A hollow funnel member is mounted on the retention frame for movement to a position overlying the bin discharge opening in the clamping position of the retention frame, and a bumper member also mounted on the retention frame engages the open bin door in the clamping position of the retention frame so as to hold the door in an open position during rotation of the support frame to discharge the bin contents. Pairs of cylinder assemblies are mounted on the main frame and connected to opposite sides of the support frame for moving the support frame between bin receiving and bin discharge positions. The cylinder assemblies in each pair are arranged so that one cylinder assembly operates to push the support frame while the other cylinder assembly operates to pull the support frame during movement of the support frame between its positions, thereby reducing the size of cylinder assembly required. For safety purposes, the apparatus includes means for forming an opening in the bin so that the bin can be flooded.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention showing the support frame in a bin receiving position and showing the retention frame in an upwardly moved position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the apparatus of this invention showing the bin retention frame in a downwardly moved position engaged with a bin, with some parts broken away for purposes of clar- FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention showing the support frame in the bin discharge position; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of the apparatus of this invention.

With reference to the drawing, the apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 as including a main frame 12, a support frame 14 rotatably mounted on the main frame 12 for rotation about the horizontal axis of aligned shafts l6, and a bin retention frame 18. The support frame 14 includes a floor portion 20 which is substantially horizontal in the bin receiving position of the frame 14 shown in FIG. 1, side portions 22 (FIG. 4) which extend upwardly from the floor'portion 20 in the bin receiving position of the frame 14 and a connecting member 24 which extends between the side portions 22 on the rear side of the frame 14. V

The support frame 14 is of a size to receive a bin 26 of a type having a top wall 28 provided with a filling and discharge opening 30 and a door 32 mounted on a hinge 34 carried by the top wall 28 for movement between a closed position overlying the opening 30 and an upwardly extended open position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Fluid actuated cylinder assemblies 36 are mounted on the upper ends of the support frame side portions 22 so that they extend upwardly therefrom. The piston rods 38 for the assemblies 36 are connected at their upper ends to the retention frame 18 so that on extension of the piston rods 38, the retention frame 18 is movable upwardly to a position spaced above the up wardly projecting open bin door 32. Thus, with the retention frame 18 in its upper position shown in FIG. 1, a bin 26 can readily be moved by fork truck or the like, to and from a supported position on the floor 20, and when the bin 26 is supported on the floor 20, the door 32 can be moved to its open position without interference from the retention frame 18. On retraction of the piston rods 38, the retention frame 18 is movable downwardly toward the floor 20 to a position in which downwardly projecting bin holding units 40 on the frame 18 engage the corners of the bin top wall 28 so as to firmly clamp the bin 26 between the floor 20 and the frame 18. During up and down movement of the retention frame 18, telescoping rod units 42 which are connected to and extend between the support frame 14 and the retention frame 18, stabilize movement of the retention frame 18. Further, the telescoping rod units 42 insure the desired engagement of the holding units 40 with the corners of the bin top wall 28.

A hollow discharge funnel 44 is mounted on the retention frame 18 so that in the clamping position of the frame 18, the lower end 46 of the funnel 44 will engage the bin top wall 28 at a position extending about the discharge opening 30. Brackets on the retention frame 18 carry a support bar 48 which extends across the retention frame 18 and supports a bumper member 50 formed of a resilient material such as rubber. The bumper member 50 is positioned on the retention frame 18 so that in the bin retaining position of the frame 18, shown in FIG. 2, the bumper member 50 will engage a central portion of the bottom side of the open door 32 so as to hold the door 32 in the open position shown in FIG. 2 during movement ofthe support frame 14 to its bin discharge position shown in FIG. 3.

The shafts 16 are arranged on opposite sides of the bin support frame 14 and are supported in bearings 52 carried by the main frame 12. At their inner ends, the shafts 16 are secured to connection plates 54 which are in turn connected to the side portions 22 of the support frame 14. Intermediate their ends, the shafts 16 carry upwardly projecting arms 56.

A pair of fluid actuated cylinder assemblies 58 and 60 is provided for each shaft 16. Each cylinder assembly 58 has its cylinder 62 pivotally supported on a shaft 64 carried by the main frame 12 and has its piston rod 66 pivotally connected to the arms 56. As a result, on actuation of the cylinder assembly 58 to extend the piston rod 66, the arms 56 are swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 to provide for a corresponding swinging movement of the bin support frame 14. A cylinder assembly 60 has its cylinder 68 pivotally mounted on a shaft 70 carried by the main frame 12 and has its piston rod 72 pivotally connected to the arms 56. As a result, on actuation of the cylinder assembly 60 to retract the piston rod 72, the arms 56 are swung in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, the cylinder assemblies 58 and 60 in each pair cooperate to move the arms 56 in a clockwise direction so as to move the bin support frame 14 from its bin receiving position shown in FIG. 1 to its bin discharge position shown in FIG. 3. By virtue of this cooperation, the cylinder assemblies 58 and 60 in each pair can be of a reduced size and capacity relative to the size and capacity of cylinders or motors in other apparatus for accomplishing rotation.

In the operation of the apparatus 10, assume that the bin support frame 14 is in its bin receiving position shown in FIG. 1 and that the bin retention frame 18 is in its raised position shown in FIG. 1. A bin 26 is moved to a supported position on the support frame floor and the bin door 32 is moved to its open position, as shown in FIG. 1. The fluid actuated cylinder assemblies 36 are operated to move the retention frame 18 downwardly to its clamping position shown in FIG. 2 in which the bin 26 is firmly held against the bin floor 20 by the corner holding units 40. In this position of the retention frame 18, the funnel member 44 is in a position overlying the discharge opening and the bumper 50 is in a position holding the door 32 in an open position.

The pairs of cylinder assemblies 58 and 60 are then actuated so as to move the arms 56 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 to in turn rotate the support frame 14 to its discharge position shown in FIG. 3 in which the discharge opening 30 is at the lower end of the bin 26 and the funnel member 44 projects downwardly. The bin contents can then flow out of the bin through the funnel member 44. During movement of the bin 26 to the position shown in FIG. 3, the retention frame 18 firmly holds the bin against the floor 20 by virtue of the engagement of the holding units with the corners of the bin top wall28. Furthermore, the bumper member retains the door 32 in an open position during such movement. The cylinder assemblies 58 and are reverse operated to return the frame 14 to its bin receiving position shown in FIG. 1. The cylinder assemblies 36 are then extended to raise the retention frame to its FIG. 1 position and the above cycle can then be repeated.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the bin 26 is of a type having fracturable safety discs mounted in the side walls thereof, such discs being specifically disclosed in applicants prior copending application, Ser. No. 02,468, filed Jan. 13, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,647,106. The purpose of the discs 80 is to prevent fire and explosion of the bin contents, the discs 80 functioning to provide blowout openings in the bin. The apparatus 10 of this invention includes a fluid actuated cylinder assembly 82 having a puncture member 84 mounted on the piston rod 86 thereof and aligned with a disc 80 in the bin 26. Should it become desirable, the cylinder assembly 82 is actuated to move the member 84 through a disc 80 so as to vent the contents of the bin 26. A flooding system (not shown), associated with the apparatus 10, is operated to flood the interior of the bin when one of the discs 80 has been fractured by the member 84.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for discharging the contents of a bin having a rectangular top wall provided with a discharge opening and a door movably mounted on said top wall for opening and closing said discharge opening, said apparatus comprising a main frame, a support frame rotatably mounted on said main frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between a bin receiving position and a bin discharge position, said support frame including a floor portion which is substantially horizontal and having side portions which extend upwardly from said floor portion in said bin receiving position of the support frame, a bin retention frame movably mounted on said support frame for movement toward and away from said floor portion, downwardly projecting bin holding units on said bin retention frame engageable with the four corners of said rectangular bin top wall, means on said support frame connected to said retention frame operable to move said retention frame toward and away from said floor portion, a plurality of upright telescoping rod assemblies connected to and extending between said support frame side portions and said retention frame for stablizing movement of said retention frame toward and away from said floor portion, means on said retention frame engageable with spaced portions of the top wall of a bin supported on said floor portion between said side portions, a hollow discharge funnel member supported on said retention frame and configured to engage said bin top wall at a position extending about said discharge opening in a position of said retention frame engaged with said bin top wall, and means on said main frame connected to said support frame and operable to move said support frame between said bin receiving and bin discharge positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bin door is hingedly mounted on said bin top wall for movement to an open position extending upwardly from the bin and wherein said apparatus further includes means mounted on said retention frame at a position to engage said door in the open position thereof in the position of said retention frame engaged with the bin top wall.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means operable to move said retention frame comprises fluid actuated cylinder assemblies extending upwardly from said support frame side portions in the position of said support frame and a second cylinder assembly connected to said support frame and having the piston rod therefore extended in the bin receiving position of said-support frame.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bin is provided with a plurality of fracturable safety discs in the walls thereof, and wherein said apparatus further includes movable means aligned with one of said safety discs in the bin receiving position of said support frame and operable selectively to fracture said disc.

* t l k 

1. Apparatus for discharging the contents of a bin having a rectangular top wall provided with a discharge opening and a door movably mounted on said top wall for opening and closing said discharge opening, said apparatus comprising a main frame, a support frame rotatably mounted on said main frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between a bin receiving position and a bin discharge position, said support frame including a floor portion which is substantially horizontal and having side portions which extend upwardly from said floor portion in said bin receiving position of the support frame, a bin retention frame movably mounted on said support frame for movement toward and away from said floor portion, downwardly projecting bin holding units on said bin retention frame engageable with the four corners of said rectangular bin top wall, means on said support frame connected to said retention frame operable to move said retention frame toward and away from said floor portion, a plurality of upright telescoping rod assemblies connected to and extending between said support frame side portions and said retention frame for stablizing movement of said retention frame toward and away from said floor portion, means on said retention frame engageable with spaced portions of the top wall of a bin supported on said floor portion between said side portions, a hollow discharge funnel member supported on said retention frame and configured to engage said bin top wall at a position extending about said discharge opening in a position of said retention frame engaged with said bin top wall, and means on said main frame connected to said support frame and operable to move said support frame between said bin receiving and bin discharge positions.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bin door is hingedly mounted on said bin top wall for movement to an open position extending upwardly from the bin and wherein said apparatus further includes means mounted on said retention frame at a position to engage said door in the open position thereof in the position of said retention frame engaged with the bin top wall.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means operable to move said retention frame comprises fluid actuated cylinder assemblies extending upwardly from said support frame side portions in the horizontal position of said floor portion, said cylinder assemblies being extensible to move said retention frame away from said floor portion and retractable to move said retention frame toward said floor portion.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means operable to move said support frame comprises a pair of fluid actuated cylinder assemblies mounted on said main frame adjacent each of said support frame side portions, each of said pair including a first cylinder assembly connected to said support frame and having the piston rod therefore retracted in the bin receiving position of saId support frame and a second cylinder assembly connected to said support frame and having the piston rod therefore extended in the bin receiving position of said support frame.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bin is provided with a plurality of fracturable safety discs in the walls thereof, and wherein said apparatus further includes movable means aligned with one of said safety discs in the bin receiving position of said support frame and operable selectively to fracture said disc. 